Ron Gardenhire agrees with Miguel Cabrera: Playing hurt does no good

Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera, left, leaves the game with an injury accompanied by Tigers trainer Doug Teter, during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, May 3, 2018.(Photo: Orlin Wagner, AP)

"Miguel has played through a lot already this year," Gardenhire said before Wednesday's game against Cleveland at Comerica Park. "You know what, we want him healthy. I don't want to run him out there and let him kill himself trying to play hurt. I agree with him. Lets get him healthy; that's our goal.

"Playing hurt, that doesn't do him any good. We all know you're a better player when you're healthy. That's what the trainers are working on, he's working on. He wants to be healthy, that way he can play better and enjoy the game himself, rather than limping around."

Cabrera, 35, is batting .323 with nine doubles, three home runs and 21 RBIs in 26 games this season. He's dealt with numerous other injuries in recent seasons, including back issues.

"Guys want to play, more than anything else, and will try to come back and play before it's their time," Gardenhire said. "You have to be really careful with them. You have to actually slow the process down and rethink the whole thing. These guys need time. Miguel, he's a little bit older, so we have to probably give him more time.

"I don't want him to come back hurt. I don't want him saying, 'Oh, I'm OK. My back's stiff or my shoulder's stiff, but I can get through these things.' Lets just let him get healthy right now. It's really early in the season. That's what we want him to do: get healthy and come back on his terms and not when everybody thinks he should."

After Wednesday, the Tigers have a seven-game road trip to Seattle and Minnesota. Gardenhire did not say which of his team's injured players would be making the trip.

"I haven't even talked to the trainers yet," he said. "I don't know how much our plane holds. We might have to pull a little wagon behind us, if you want to bring them all."

Tigers shortstop Dixon Machado (49) makes a throw to first for an out in the second inning of the Tigers' 6-0 loss to the Indians on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at Comerica Park.
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Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias (1) makes a throw to first to complete a double play as Indians right fielder Brandon Guyer (6) slides into second in the fourth inning of the Tigers' 6-0 loss to the Indians on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at Comerica Park.
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Detroit Tigers' JaCoby Jones is greeted in the dugout after his solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Detroit.
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Rajai Davis #26 of the Cleveland Indians slides into third base next to Pete Kozma #33 of the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on May 15, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
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JaCoby Jones #21 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates scoring a run in the seventh inning with Nicholas Castellanos #9 while playing the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park on May 15, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Pete Kozma #33 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates scoring a run in the seventh inning with Jose Iglesias #1while playing the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park on May 15, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan.
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Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller (24) walks off the field after being relieved in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on May 15, 2018.
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Detroit Tigers' Niko Goodrum celebrates his three-run home run in the eighth inning with John Hicks, right, and James McCann while playing the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park on May 14, 2018.
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Detroit Tigers' Niko Goodrum, right, receives congratulations from John Hicks, after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park on May 14, 2018.
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Jones on top

With regular lead-off hitter Leonys Martin on the DL with a left hamstring strain, JaCoby Jones has filled that role nicely. Batting first in Tuesday's win, Jones blasted a home run to open the game, his first career lead-off homer. He added an RBI double in the Tigers' five-run seventh inning.

"I hit lead-off a little in college and even summer ball, so I'm used to it," said Jones, more of a natural No. 2 batter. "I'll hit wherever. Leading off the game is fun. It's really good to get on base in front of the three, four guys. But you don't want to put too much pressure on yourself."

Gardenhire said it's a luxury to have someone like Jones who can hit anywhere in the lineup.

"We just move him all around," Gardenhire said. "Some guys don't like to be moved at all, like to get in one spot in the order. He's one that doesn't give a flip. If he's in the front nine, he doesn't care. He'll play wherever you put him. It's necessity right now because Martin's not playing."

Jones said he's fine with moving out of the lead-off spot when Martin returns.

"I might joke around or something, but obviously, it's their decision," Jones said. "(Martin) has been a great lead-off hitter all year and that's what he does."

Getting closer

Martin, who went to the DL on May 9, has been doing some baseball activities and could return to the lineup in Seattle.

"We're going to be extra careful because of the history of his leg," Gardenhire said. "It will probably be, I'm guessing, somewhere in the Seattle series. Might not be the first game — it might be the last game. He fought it the whole time when he was hurt earlier (in the season), saying he was fine. I don't trust him that much anymore, to be honest, because I know he wants to play. Still, we have to make sure he's healthy before we run him back out there."